Canoe Ridge Vineyard closed their tasting room in July 2010 and the winery's future is unclear.

Avalon wine will keep previous vintage tasting notes on our site for reference.

Here's an excerpt of a press release from June 2010:

By Vicki Hillhouse, Walla Walla Union-BulletinMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News

June 17, 2010--The tasting room doors at one of Walla Walla's pioneer wineries will close late next month in a cost-cutting move by its London-based parent company.

Canoe Ridge Vineyard, a winery founded by local investors more than 20 years ago, will close the public tasting room at its 1905 Cherry St. Engine House on July 25, an employee confirmed. No further details could be disclosed. A call to California-based Director of Communications Maire Griffin was not returned for comment.

The tasting room is reportedly one of several from Washington to California facing closure by corporate parent company Diageo Plc, the international drinks giant that owns Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo, among many others. Diageo announced last month plans to restructure its U.S. wine business, Diageo Chateau & Estate wines. Sales of the company's U.S. wines were reportedly socked by the recession and have been slow to recover.

Outstanding! from Wine Press NW: "A spicy white wine with aromas and flavors of nutmeg, grapefruit and crushed almonds."

From the winery:"The Canoe Ridge Vineyard Gew?rztraminer displays all of the rich spicy, honeysuckle aromas we have come to expect from the wines of this vineyard. Delicious melon and citrus flavors match the mouth-coating feel that results from barrel fermentation in older, neutral French oak barrels. Slightly drier than previous vintages, our Gew?rztraminer finishes on the palate with a pleasant crispness.

Wine press NW says: "Outstanding! This Walla Walla winery that gets its grapes from it own vineyard in the lower Horse Heaven Hills has repeatedly hit the nail on the head with its gew?rztraminer. Inviting citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors finish with a tangy farewell. A great match for a variety of spicy hot dishes." Bob Woehler

This cool weather varietal is grown 80 miles further west of the Canoe Ridge Vineyard« on the White Salmon River. The vineyard was planted in the early 1980s and is dry farmed. It is likely the coolest site that could consistently grow this varietal to ripeness, which is key to its concentration and style. It is a crisp, dry style Gew?rztraminer with a spicy, pink grapefruit and honeysuckle aroma.

The mouthfeel is well structured with a hint of sweetness that gives it the ability to stand up to hot food, such as Thai. It is also perfect before dinner and during the hot summer season. Residual Sugar is less than 1 percent. The wine is barrel fermented in 100 percent neutral French oak.